Newsworthy

We’ve recently added a variety of tools to help you experience the museum from wherever you are.

* Vermont Art Online is a digital portal to Vermont’s museums and galleries, curated by Sarah Briggs and Sarah Laursen of the Middlebury College Museum of Art. It is presented in partnership with the Vermont Curators Group with generous support from the Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Humanities Council. A visitor took a 360 “photosphere” of our museum a few years ago, so you can even travel back in time to see the museum, some highlighted machines, and more. (If you are looking at the map, the museum is on the eastern border of the state toward the middle.)

News

Museum COVID19 Update

Update from May 19, 2020: As we hoped, we are ready to reopen for local* visitors for the 2020 season on Saturday, May 23rd ! The following restrictions and preventive measures will be in place (following recommended guidelines):

1) Face masks must be worn at all times. The museum can provide a disposable mask should you need one. 2) Maintain a social distance of a min. of 6 Ft. 3) The museum may restrict the number of visitors at a time 4) Hands-on Exhibits are temporarily closed. 5) The museum will be closed from 1:00—1:30 and 4:30 for sanitizing of high touch surfaces. 6) Traveling into Vermont from another state is still currently restricted.

The museum reserves the right to update these policies at any time. And of course, if you’re not feeling well, please stay home and take care of yourself. Thank you for helping us protect each other and we look forward to seeing you!

Update from May 6, 2020: The museum hopes to open for Memorial Day weekend, if the stay-at-home order does in fact expire on May 15th. We will follow all recommended guidelines to protect our visitors!

March 25, 2020: Governor Phil Scott issued an order suspending in-person operations for all non-essential businesses and non-profits on April 10th extended that order to last until at least May 15th. Accordingly, all museum visits are suspended for the time being under the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” policy. During this time of physical distancing, the best thing we can do for our museum friends is to continue to offer digital resources.

The museum will continue to release photos, articles, and more content here on our social channels (primarily Facebook and Instagram).

We invite you to use these resources for distance learning or homeschooling and we’ll be adding materials to this website’s Learn tab as they are developed.

Lastly, our Measurement Exhibit is still in development and we will bring it to you as soon as we are safely able to. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. The best way to get in touch with us is to send us an email or contact us through this website!

Executive Director Steve Dalessio said, “Our spin on ‘seeing the world through technology’ is inspection and accuracy.” Dalessio also noted that precision manufacturing depends on accurate measurement, “so the timing is perfect to participate in this statewide initiative.”

Elements of measurement to be displayed will include hands-on and digital elements. “We want people to realize measurement isn’t just a ruler or a tape measure, but an integral part of the world around us that allows us to be accurate to the micron. When you have industries like aerospace and medical, that level of detail is essential. What’s more, there are a ton of jobs in quality and inspection that rely on this level of attention to detail, so we hope our collection of items from the 1800s to today sparks some interest!”

Items to be on display will include historical items like Edison’s watt-hour meter and the world’s first super-micrometer (accurate to the millionth of an inch), and present day items such as laser micrometers and CNC probes. Augmented-reality and hands-on activities will round out the visitor experience.

The exhibit, and the rest of the museum, plans to open for the season Memorial Day weekend.

The American Precision Museum is located in the 1846 Robbins & Lawrence Armory, a National Historic Landmark, and traces the beginnings of manufacturing to modern technology through exhibits and interactive programs. Open by appointment until April 30th, then open May 1st through October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The American Precision Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military & their families.

###

For Museum Day, Windsor’s American Precision Museum Opens Up About Manufacturing

American Precision Museum Appoints Steve Dalessio as New Executive Director

Windsor, VT, September 12, 2019. . . The American Precision Museum’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Dalessio as its new Executive Director. He succeeds Ann Lawless, who retired in 2018 after serving as director for 15 years. Dalessio will implement the museum’s mission and goals in innovative and creative ways, overseeing the daily operations, budget, and fundraising, in addition to refining the museum’s long-range strategy and interpretative plan.

Free “Windsor Day” on August 24 Brings Local History to Life

Windsor, VT – The American Precision Museum will host its first annual “Windsor Day” on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to honor the town’s residents and deepen understanding of the community’s manufacturing heritage. Windsor Day features activities for all ages, including rocket launching, interactive electronic and mechanical assembly areas, an introduction to Tinkercad 3D design basics, robotics lessons, and friendly competitions with Sphero robots. Materials from Historic Windsor Inc., modern milling machine exhibits, and machine tool demonstrations will provide insights into Windsor’s pivotal role in the “Precision Valley” and its significant contribution to our daily lives.

“The Museum is building a library of video-based oral histories that document local industry,” says Scott Davison, Director of Education and Interpretation, “so machinists and engineers who have worked in Windsor are especially encouraged to participate in this event. Bring your family and share your stories! It’s personal memories and real life experiences that make history truly exciting.”

Admission to Windsor Day is free

The American Precision Museum is located in the 1846 Robbins & Lawrence Armory, a National Historic Landmark, and traces the beginnings of manufacturing to modern technology through exhibits and interactive programs. Open daily, Memorial Day Weekend through October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The American Precision Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military & their families.